Alleged N80.2bn Fraud: Witness Details How N117m Was Moved From 13 Kogi LG Accounts

The seventh prosecution witness (PW7) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, on Tuesday told the Federal High Court in Abuja how about N117 million was moved from the accounts of 13 local government areas in Kogi State.

Led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Professor Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), Egoro testified before Justice Emeka Nwite that out of the total inflows from the 13 local government areas, N115 million was withdrawn in cash via cheques by one Yakubu Adadenega Siaka.

He explained that on May 6, 2022, the total sum of N117 million was deposited into accounts belonging to the following LGAs: Yagba East, Omala, Yagba West, Idah, Okene, Ijumu, Olamaboro, Ofu, Okehi, Ogori-Mangogo, Igalamela-Odolu, Ibaji, and Dekina.

Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello is standing trial before Justice Nwite for alleged diversion and misappropriation of N80.2 billion in state funds during his tenure.

The day’s proceedings also featured the continuation of cross-examination of the fourth prosecution witness (PW4), Mashelia Arhyel, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, and the testimonies of three other bank officials from Ecobank, Keystone Bank, and Access Bank.

During cross-examination by defence counsel, J.B. Daudu (SAN), Arhyel confirmed that multiple cash withdrawals were made from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account by Abdulsalam Hudu and Comfort Olufunke, each in tranches of N10 million.

He further stated that several hotels—Idrinana Hotels, Edge Drive Hotels, JF Hotels, May Treasure Resort, Halims Hotels, Nostalgia Suites, and Hope Confluence Hotels—were beneficiaries of transactions from the same account.

After the cross-examination, Pinheiro declined re-examination, and the witness was discharged.

Next to testify was Jesutoni Akoni, a compliance officer with Ecobank Nigeria Limited (PW5), who appeared under subpoena and tendered the statement of account of one Moses Wadzu Ileku, covering January to December 2016. The document was admitted in evidence as Exhibit 29.

Akoni identified several deposits made by Ileku, Abdulwahab Sabo, and Shehu Bello, among others, ranging from N3 million to N20 million.

The sixth witness, Mohammed Bello Hassan (PW6), a relationship officer with Keystone Bank, also testified under subpoena and produced the statement of account of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, which was admitted as Exhibit 31.

Hassan told the court that between February 17 and 22, 2021, ?100 million was transferred into the account by Maigari Murtala and Yusuf Mubarak. Under cross-examination, he said he did not personally know the two individuals.

The proceedings concluded with the testimony of Access Bank’s compliance officer, Olomotane Egoro (PW7), who produced 12 sets of documents in compliance with a court subpoena. He noted that while some account-opening packages could not be retrieved, the bank provided adequate customer details extracted from its database.